a practical barrier

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a practical barrier" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used to describe a physical or tangible obstacle that hinders or prevents someone from achieving a task or goal. Example: "The lack of proper transportation infrastructure was a practical barrier for the company's expansion plans in the rural areas." In this example, "a practical barrier" refers to a tangible and tangible impediment that is making it difficult for the company to expand into rural areas.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Not only was there a psychological hurdle (I couldn't bear the thought of going to a store, any store, or of coming home with more stuff) but I also faced a practical barrier.

The New York Times - Tech

It seems that the complexity of living cells and their interactions with biomaterials has been a conceptual as well as a practical barrier to the use of advanced discovery tools in biomaterials science.

Biomaterials

A leaked draft legal analysis produced for the European scrutiny committee by in-house lawyers warns that the UK will face "a practical barrier" to striking a trade deal with the US or other non-EU countries if the country falls into the backstop customs arrangements.

The Guardian

The 27-page document, dated 26 November, says the UK would conform to EU customs rules if it entered the backstop, and adds that this "would be a practical barrier to the UK entering separate trade agreements on goods with third countries".

The Guardian

Aside from the Constitutional issue, a practical barrier to Japanese action emerged this month when owners and unionized workers with the airlines and shipping companies told the Government that they would refuse to carry military personnel or equipment into a combat zone.

The New York Times

Thus, this approach has overcome a practical barrier and recombinant proteins for these three genes are currently being evaluated in pre-clinical studies to determine their vaccine potential.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Barriers to care were assessed by measuring agreement with a series of statements which covered: a) practical barriers to access of care; b) anticipated public stigma; and c) attitudes to mental health care/providers.

BMC Health Services Research

"A skewed police force with inadequate gender representation is a major practical barrier in effective implementation of legislation intended for the protection of women," it said.

The Guardian

A more practical barrier to widespread adoption of E15 are the gas stations that would sell it.

The New York Times

To do this, we need to face a very practical barrier to the proliferation of such groups: America simply doesn't have a great, quiet place for a group to meet! (This is a key learning from the millions of meetings hosted by self-organized groups on Meetup.com).

Huffington Post

This lack of H2O tolerance represents a significant practical barrier to the uptake of FLP catalysis by the broader chemical community that must be overcome if FLPs are truly to become viable alternatives to transition metal hydrogenation catalysts.

ACS Catalysis

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing challenges, use "a practical barrier" to highlight tangible obstacles rather than abstract or theoretical concerns. For example, lack of funding is "a practical barrier" to launching a project.

Common error

Avoid using "a practical barrier" when describing problems that are conceptual, attitudinal, or based on beliefs. "A practical barrier" should refer to real-world limitations like resources, logistics, or physical constraints.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a practical barrier" functions as a noun phrase. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and used to describe a tangible obstacle. It usually serves as the subject complement or object of a sentence, identifying a specific impediment to progress or achievement.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

45%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a practical barrier" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase, particularly in News & Media and Science contexts, to describe a tangible obstacle hindering progress. According to Ludwig AI, it serves to highlight concrete limitations. While it maintains a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication, remember to use it for real-world limitations, not abstract or conceptual hurdles. Alternatives such as "a real obstacle" or "a tangible impediment" can provide nuanced expressions of similar concepts. As the numerous examples provided by Ludwig demonstrate, this phrase is a useful tool for precisely identifying and addressing impediments across various domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a real obstacle

Emphasizes the genuineness and significance of the impediment.

a tangible impediment

Highlights the concrete, touchable nature of the obstruction.

a concrete limitation

Focuses on the specific and definite restrictions imposed.

a functional constraint

Stresses the operational difficulties caused by the obstacle.

a logistical challenge

Specific to problems related to organization and execution.

a significant hurdle

Indicates a noteworthy difficulty that must be overcome.

a major stumbling block

Highlights the potential for the obstacle to cause failure.

a considerable difficulty

Emphasizes the degree of trouble or effort required.

an actual restraint

Focuses on the limiting effect on freedom or action.

a viable obstruction

A functional barrier makes progress very difficult.

FAQs

How can I use "a practical barrier" in a sentence?

Use "a practical barrier" to describe a tangible obstacle hindering progress. For instance, "The cost of materials is "a practical barrier" to completing the project."

What's a good alternative to "a practical barrier"?

Alternatives include "a real obstacle", "a tangible impediment", or "a concrete limitation" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "practical barrier" or "theoretical barrier"?

It depends on the context. Use "practical barrier" for tangible issues like lack of funding or resources. Use "theoretical barrier" for conceptual or belief-based obstacles.

What's the difference between "a practical barrier" and "a challenge"?

"A challenge" is a broad term for any difficult situation. "A practical barrier" refers specifically to a tangible obstacle, such as a physical or logistical impediment.